Shipping container



Jan. 8, 1946. A. lf' LAMB SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Jan. 9, 1942 l 1 l i Patented Jan. 8, 1946 'UNITED STATES' PATEN T OFFICE 2,392,675

SHIPPING CONTAINER `Albert 1. Lamb, Bay City, Mich. Application January 9, 1942, Serial No. 426,225 o '3 Claims. '(Cl. 20G-3l `This invention relates to shipping containers? for projectiles, shells, and similar articles.

One of. the prime objectsof the invention is to design a simple and-practical box or container which accommodates a predetermined number of projectiles in spaced apart relation, and which 'can be easily and quickly packed and/or unpacked in a minimum length of time and with a minimum of effort by the workman.

' Another object is to design a box in which the l.

projectiles are definitely and accurately spaced and separated and then held in proper position, and wherein'no substantial amount of lost space between the adjacent pojectiles is permitted.

A further object is to provide a box in which the manufactured projectile parts can be securely and compactly packed and secured, and from which the parts can be easily and quickly removed and again repackedA after assembling without changing the box structure, spacing, or securing means.

A still further object is to provide a box including reversible centering and spacing means which serve to space and center the ends of the projectiles and to compensate for additional body length created by the assembling of the projectile after it has been loaded.

lA`further object still is to provide a box which will withstand rough usage, which can be turned upside down or otherwise handled without displacement of the projectiles or other articles packed therein.

` With the above and other objects ineview, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes "may be made in the form, size, proportion and minor details of'construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing anyv of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional side elevational view of my shipping container:

Fig. 2 is a top plan View with the cover omitted;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l showing the lower spacer and filler member in reversed position to accommodate the assembled projectiles;

Fig. 4 is also view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the filler member omitted; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail plan of the lower spacer member used in the alternate construction.

In the manufacture of projectiles and shells it is customary for the manufacturer to rst manufacture the shell proper at the factory. The parts of the manufactured shell are then placed in containers or boxes and are then shipped to an arsenal for loading and attachment of the base, after which the loaded shells are shipped to their destination for use.

At. the present time, the manufacture of the boxes and the packing of the projectiles therein lpresent certain difficulties, primarily because the projectiles when iirst packed are not completely assembled and must be spaced and securely held in separated position. These packed boxes must then be shipped to another plant or destination where the projectiles are loaded and fully assembled. This same fully assembled projectile (of increased overall length) must now be repacked in the same box without adding thereto or otherwise changing `the shape or dimensions of the box structure. Theseveral parts must t only in their one correct position sothat there will be no possibility of inserting certain lparts in wrong position, thus necessitating removal and correct insertion. There must be no binding ofthe parts, and the arrangement must be compact in order to conserve space, weight, and materials; and I have, therefore, perfected K4a, very simple, practical, and economical box structure in which the various parts can be easily and quickly packed, which-securely holds the parts in proper position, and which accommodates the assembled projectiles in the same relative position after the loading and assembling operation.

Referring' now to the drawing in which I have shown a box or container preferably, but not necessarily, formed of wood. It is designed to accommodate a limited number of projectiles, and while in the present instance I have shown this box designed to hold but four (4) projectiles, it will be readily understood that it can be manufactured to hold any re-asonable desired number.

The box proper comprises bottom, side, and

end walls 8, 9, and l0, respectively, secured together by nails or other securing devices, and a cover member II forms a closure for the open end of the box and is held imposition by means of screws l2 or/the like.

The projectiles indicated at P are packed in upright position in this container and usually comprise two or more parts, the lower end of the elongated body portion I3 being internally bored to accommodate a cap I4 which is formed with a shouldered projecting sectionjl5 adapted to be received in the bored body and secured therein in any desired manner when the projectile is loaded and assembled. j

Inasmuch as the loading and assemblingV is done at a place other than the manufacturing plant, these parts must be packed at the plant 'for shipment to an arsenal or other place Where they are loaded and assembled, after which they must be again repacked in the same box for shipment to the place of use.

In order that the box may accomodate and properly secure the projectile or shell parts before assembly, and then the assembled shell after loading, I provide a centering and spacer Ymember I6 which closely fits the interior of the box and rests on the bottom thereof. A plurality of openings I1 are provided in this member I6 and are of suitable diameter to accommodate the capslli.Y

which snugly fit therein, the overall cap thickness being the same as the thickness of the spacer.

A iller member I8 is superimposed fon thel spacer I 6, and this memberl is of thesame size assembled by the manufacturer before packing. y

identical with the previously described. Y Hlro'm the foregoing it will be obvious that I 'have' perfected a very simple, practical, and substantial container for projectiles and similar Y articles.

and thickness as the spacer, counterbored seats I9 being provided in the one face thereof,. and

' are of predetermined depth so'that the distance be'tfween the bottomV ofthe Seat and the opposite faceof the iillermember is egual to the body portion 'of the capmember I 4, these seats'accommodating the ends of the shell. body` I3 which pro- `ject'thereinto. i A Y The projectiles Pare packed upright tojfacili- Vtate the insertion 'and removal ofY the parts and also to conserve space, the upperend of'thebody ofeach shell being taperedas shown at 2B andan j upper spacer member Z'IJis provided forholding the upper en'ds of the projectiles in proper relatheA member 2I,and'thes`e openings are of a size directly adjacent the body portion so that when the spacer is/placed inY position, it is wedged tight- :ly on the tapered'end's of the projectiles.'4

Blocks 23'of predetermined width'andthick ness arethen inserted between theside walls of Y,

thebox and the tapered'upper ends of the projtin'fspaced apart openingsi22 being formed in Ato lclosely fit the upper'l tapered end of the shell over the open end andthe screws I2 are. inserted,

thus firmly securing the coverandeach individual part in its proper position. 'A y Y `V l The Ypacked box is' now ready for shipment, to

an arsenal o1." other place' forlf'loa'ding and assenibly, andupo'nairival atlthe'vdestination,V the Y 'cover I I. is rs't removed, after which th'eblocks "23arelt`aken out. The Yworkm'afn thenA places his iinger 'in' the centrallydisposed finger. opening 24 provided in the upper spacer memberQI, andre- 'moves saidspacer, and the'variousparts are now freefor easy removal, preparatory to loading and assembly.

After the projectiles have been assembled the boxes are prepared for repacking, the member I8 being turnedover and then placed in the bot- Vtorn of the box, see Fig. 3 of the drawing. VThe spacer I6 is Vthen superimposed on the member I8 land the assembled'prjectiles P yare next in- 'serted,' the ends extending through'the openings I 'l and resting on, the ilat fa'ce of themember I8. l "The remaining parts now t in the same position and relationship as previously described,A and the packing operation is completed.

This reversal of the parts compensates for the what I Claim is:

1., A box for packing projectiles, comprising bottom, side, and end walls, a spacer mounted in Vthe bottom of the box` and providedwith openings of a size to snugly accommodate'a projectile cap. a ller member mounted on said: spacer and formed with counterbored seats of predetermined depth therein and in which the lower ends of the projectile are seated, an upper spacer member 'spaced from said seat member 'and formed with tion, for' securing the partsr rmly in position.'

2. A container in whichV projectiles are packed comprising bottom, end, and side walls, a spacer mounted in the bottom of the container'and' provided with openings therein for accommodating a projectile part entirely within the marginal edges ofthe openings, a reversibleY lller member mounted on said spacer V'and provided with seats of predetermined depth ytherein and adapted ,to receive fthe'lower end of the projectile, an upper spacer member mounted in'theY upper end of the container and formed with openings for wedging on the upper tapered ends of' the projectile, a cover and loosely mounted' blocks wedged between the side walls and the 4upper ends of the projectile@ with the edges bearing against the upper spacer member and the cover, said spacer and filler members being interchangeable' to permit the'projectile to extend through the opening Yin the spacer member and restonfthe Vfiller inemprising bottom, end, and side walls,` anspa'cer mounted Yin the bottom ofthe box and provided with openingsgof a size*toaccommodateV the end c apjof a Iguicijectilei a filler member of .the same thickness as the spaceifandfmounted thereon,

- said filler being formed withseats'lof nthe Vsame diameter and of predetermined4 depth, an-upper spacer member adjacentthe YupperendofA theV box .and providedwith openings adapted to accommodate the tapered ends of the projectiles, a cover additional overall length of the shell body created by the assembling of the parts, the Ybody I3 ts 'in exactly the same position and as snug as when rst packed, and the packing of the loaded projectiles is easy and can be accomplished i-n a minimum of time.

1 In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing I have shown 'an alternate construction in which the projectile is member, YblocksY removably' interposed between .the upper spacermember-andthe cover, saidllow- .er 'spacer member-.and the filler member beinginterchangeable, withV the filler member being turned upsidegown to permit theVv projectile Yto extend through the openings in, the-spacerjmem- Aberv and rest onthe `filler memberl after. the jprojectilehas beenfassembled.

ALBErrr I. 

